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2012 Winter Horse Edition

What’s Inside This Edition...

Reproduction & Genetics

Tri-State Livestock News Serving the Agricultural Industry for five decades

2 Breeding resources

Veterinarians share their expertise on equine reproduction

On the cover: Unimpressed, horses between Ucross and Clearmont, WY react to an early fall snowstorm in 2009. Photo by Heather Hamilton/Double H Photography

By Amanda Radke

10 Equine cloning on the northern plains

2

General Manager: Susie Thompson Tri-State Livestock News and Farmer & Rancher Exchange (877) 347-9104 • sthompson@tsln-fre.com

Myers Performance Horses invests in cloning technology for Frenchmans Guy

By Jan Swan Wood

Editor: Alaina Mousel (877) 815-4125 • editorial@tsln-fre.com Layout Design: Sharla Hayford

18 Jensen Quarter Horses

10

Chris and Jenifer Jensen’s breeding program centers on quality mares and their stallion Playzorro

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26 Horizon Quarter Horses

18

Deborah and Charles Skow focus on Poco Bueno bloodlines for the foundation of their horse program

By Gayle Smith

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Training & Behavior

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34 Training tactics

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34

Health

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Timing and surgery can save a horse’s life

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52 Care through the years

Closely monitoring horses as they age

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By Gayle Smith

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H

Breeding

“The causes of reproductive failure or infertility in horses includes a long list of problems that may be of mare or stallion origin,� says John Ismay, DVM, owner and veterinary practitioner at the Sturgis Veterinary Hospital.

Courtesy photo/Sturgis Veterinary Hospital

2 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

resources

By Amanda Radke

Veterinarians share their expertise on equine reproduction 2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 3

There are many factors to consider when breeding horses. Two leading veterinarians on the topic answered questions for us – John Ismay, DVM, and Jared Janke, DVM, DACVIM, LA, both of the Sturgis Veterinary Hospital in Sturgis, SD.

I

smay attended Colorado State University (CSU), where he graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1971. Upon graduation, he started working at the Sturgis Veterinary Hospital and purchased the clinic from founder J.A. Chamley, DVM, in 1972.

Having a background and a special interest in equine practice, Ismay has taken advanced training in abdominal surgery, arthroscopy, laparoscopy and dentistry throughout his career. Along with his studies, he recruited others to help build a strong equine referral practice, which now includes Jason Mez, DVM, who joined the Equine Center in 2007 as a specialist in equine surgery; and Jared Janke, DVM, who joined the practice as an equine internal medicine specialist in 2008.

Janke is a board-certified large animal internal medicine specialist and a native of South Dakota.

He received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University and board certification from the American College of Veterinary Medicine, following his post-doctorate training at the Southwest Equine Medical and Surgical Center in Scottsdale, AZ and residency at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.

H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

“Points to consider should include stallion selection and availability, the desired foaling time, mare reproductive soundness and history, an understanding of the expenses and implementation of your plan,” says John Ismay, DVM. Courtesy photo/Sturgis Veterinary Hospital

The Sturgis Veterinary Hospital’s Equine Center has grown to offer specialized services in medicine and surgery, with a vision to provide a

The Sturgis Veterinary Hospital’s Equine Center offers specialized services in medicine and surgery, with a vision to provide a regional, specialized veterinary facility to meet the needs of the patients, referring veterinarians, clients and community. Courtesy photo/Sturgis Veterinary Hospital

regional, specialized veterinary facility to meet the needs of the patients, referring veterinarians, clients and community.

Biggest reproductive challenge

What are the biggest challenges in equine reproduction you’ve seen in your practice?

“The causes of reproductive failure or infertility in horses includes a long list of Jared Janke, DVM problems that may be of mare or stallion origin,” says Ismay. “In our practice, we see more problems with mare infertility including chronic, low-grade reproductive tract infections, hormonal and conformational abnormalities, and ovarian diseases. A common scenario includes breeding aged, virgin mares that retire from their athletic career and graduate into a broodmare role. A similar situation occurs when non-virgin mares have not been bred for whatever reason for a long period of time, and then reach their late teens or early twenties and the decision is to get another couple foals before the mare becomes geriatric. These types of mares tend to be more troublesome to get in foal than equivalent age-matched mares that have remained on a consistent breeding schedule.”

“In addition, previous foaling trauma and repeated breedings can take a negative toll on the reproductive tract that result in impaired fertility,” Janke says.

“One challenge for breeding mares in our area is the later onset of the optimal breeding season.

Due to our seasons, some mares tend to transition into normal cyclic estrous later in the breeding season. This can make getting early-season breeding dates challenging without considerable planning and intervention.”

Planning for breeding

What are some things breeders should keep in mind when planning their program?

“The decision to breed a mare requires considerable planning by the owner,” Ismay says.

“Points to consider should include: stallion selection and availability; the desired foaling time; mare reproductive soundness and history; an understanding of the expenses; and implementation of your plan.

“Some of the most commonly-encountered problems I recognize include an ill-informed owner with unrealistic expectations. Ensuring that all stallion contract arrangements are made and up-front fees submitted to the stallion owner are also important aspects that can easily be taken care of prior to the breeding season.

Scheduling semen shipments to an area with lim- See Breeding resources on page 6 -

“In addition, previous foaling trauma and repeated breedings can take a negative toll on the reproductive tract that result in impaired fertility,” – Jared Janke “One of the most important aspects of having a successful breeding program is to have an a basic understanding of the process,” explains Jared Janke, DVM. Courtesy photo/Sturgis Veterinary Hospital

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H

The Sturgis Veterinary Hospital was founded by J.A. Chamley, DVM, in the early 1950s and was purchased by John Ismay in 1972. Courtesy photo/Sturgis Veterinary Hospital

Breeding resources - Continued from page 5 -

ited shipping options can occasionally lead to difficulty that can sometimes require added expense to ship and transport semen by passenger aircraft, couriers, and on weekends.”

“When dealing with mares that have a history of infertility, developing a plan well in advance with your veterinarian to determine the appropriate testing, timing of intervention, and treatment options is critical,” adds Janke. “Unfortunately,

the owner must also be realistic and understand that every breeding will not result in a viable pregnancy or foal. When a pregnancy is achieved, the owner and veterinarian should develop a complete health program that includes meeting the nutritional, farrier, dental, parasite and immunization needs of the pregnant mare.”

The horse’s fertility cycle

Looking at the estrous cycles and fertility of stallions and mares, what are some things owners should keep in mind?

“One of the most important aspects of having a successful breeding program is to have a basic understanding of the process,” explains Janke. “I would encourage owners to use their veterinarians as a dependable source.

“Horses have been described as inefficient breeders when compared to other domestic species; however, this is likely due to the mare being classified as a seasonally poly-estrous animal, meaning that during the breeding season, the mare has recurring estrous cycles. The estrous cycle averages 21 days but can range from 18-24 days.

The period of receptivity to the stallion (estrus or heat) ranges from 4-7 days of the end of the estrous cycle. Estrus tends to be slightly longer for mares during the early breeding season.

“Twin pregnancies are most likely associated with the ovulation of two eggs, in contrast to splitting of a single egg (identical twin), and is expected in approximately 16 percent of ovulations. The occurrence of a twin pregnancy is considered unfavorable and a diagnosis by

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14 days post-breeding is ideal. Due to the poor outcomes associated with twin pregnancy, an early diagnosis (by 14 days post-breeding) and a plan to monitor or terminate one or both embryos would be considered. The incidence of multiple concurrent ovulations appears to be most frequent in Thoroughbreds, draft breeds, and Warmbloods.”

after the expense of breeding is covered. There are far more affordable hobbies when compared to breeding mares for the equine enthusiast.”

“The number-one frustration for owners is those trying to get a quick-and-easy foal,” Janke adds. “Even in the best scenario this can be - See Breeding resources on page 8 -

What is successful?

What are some of the most succesful breeding programs doing right that others should follow?

“Clients who appear to have the highest conception rates tend to manage their broodmare bands with attention to solid husbandry practices such as maintaining sound nutritional and preventative medicine practices,” Ismay says. “This attention leads to breeding only healthy and fertile mares and practicing restraint against using resources to breed inferior or reproductively unsound mares.

“Additionally, problem breeders can be a frustration in situations where budgets are strained. There is always some degree of unknowns when you start down the path of deciding to breed a mare and an owner must evaluate whether there are realistic expectations and there is sufficient economic opportunity

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H

Breeding resources - Continued from page 7 -

controversial. In some situations, depending on the type of horse an owner is looking for, purchasing a started or proven equine athlete may be a faster, less risky, and financially more-promising option. “The owner is encouraged to critically evaluate the approach that best suits their needs. Currently, there are several options available that may result in pregnancy including live-cover, hand-mating, or artificial insemination using fresh, cooled or frozen semen. Each of these techniques have benefits and short-comings, and consultation with your veterinarian can help to determine the most appropriate technique given the owners situation. For example, some stallions have significantly lower conception rates when their semen is frozen when compared to cooled.�

Both veterinarians agree that they have seen a reduction in the number of grade or unproven mares being bred, attributing it to the current economic state of the equine industry. However, they both say that there appears to be a consistently strong market for well-proven horses and popular bloodlines. F Editor’s note: For additional advice or information on your equine breeding program, contact Ismay and Janke at www.sturgisvethospital. vetsuite.com/Templates/Clean.aspx.

Read us online at www.tsln. com H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 9

Equine cloning on the northern plains

I

n 2003, the first equine was cloned in Italy. In 2005, Texas A&M cloned the first equine in the U.S. Since that history-making day, over 40 horses have been cloned. Many of the cloned horses 10 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

are famous performers from the racetrack, cutting arena, rodeo arena and even the roughstock arena. Cloning has involved geldings, mares and stallions, plus mules.

Myers Performance Horses invests in cloning technology for Frenchmans Guy

By Jan Swan Wood

- See Equine cloning on page 12 -

Frenchmans Guy meets his clones face to face. The variations in markings are caused by differences in the environment in the womb when white markings are developing. Courtesy photo/Bill & Deb Myers

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 11

Equine cloning

- Continued from page 11 The relatively new technology has enabled owners of superior geldings to produce a stallion for reproductive purposes which is genetically an exact copy of the original horse. In 2006, Charmayne James cloned her great gelding Gills Bay Boy, better known as Scamper. Scamper was World Champion Barrel Horse at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) 10 consecutive times in his career, and James sought to reproduce the ability and mentality of that great horse through cloning.

That clone, Clayton, now stands at stud at Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; barrel horse breeding facility in Texas. He looks and acts like Scamper, according to James, and she has high hopes for his career as a barrel sire.

The cost of cloning a horse is prohibitive to most people and has not diminished with time. Most cost around $150,000 per clone, a rate that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t likely to change.

The procedure of cloning isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all that difficult, from a scientistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view. A small tissue sample is taken from the skin on the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chest, packaged, and sent to the laboratory where cells are grown in a culture. Through a process called nucleur transfer, DNA from the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cells is transferred into enucleated oocytes, which are eggs from which the genetic mate-

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just finished halter breaking them. They look, move and act so much like him (Frenchmans Guy), that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty neat. Their markings are different, but the color of them is the same dark palomino. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bill Myers rial of the mare has been removed and discarded. The DNA from the donor, called an adult (body) cell, containing two sets of genes (one each from the sire and dam of the donor) is then placed into the enucleated oocytes. An electrochemical stimulus is applied and the egg/cell â&#x20AC;&#x153;coupletâ&#x20AC;? fuses into a clone embryo, which begins to

divide like a naturally-conceived embryo. After a brief period of growth in an incubator, the embryo is transferred into the recipient mare just like standard embryo transfer procedures.

There has been difficulty involving the cloned offspring of cattle and sheep in that the offspring are oversized at birth and have organ

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The three normal, healthy weanlings are genetically identical to Frenchmans Guy as a result of cloning technology.

Courtesy photo/Bill & Deb Myers

system problems. That hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been a problem for the 14 live foals produced at Texas A&M, though there have been other issues. About half of the foals had some problems such as weakness and maladjustment at birth, contracted tendons in the front limbs, and enlarged umbilical stumps, some of which had to be surgically removed.

These problems are all found in naturally-occurring foals as well.

The question of what is causing the problems at birth most likely can be answered by the differences in how the genes are being used, or gene expression, in the cloned foals. When the DNA of a skin cell from the donor horse is placed in a host egg or oocyte, the oocyte has to redo all of the on/off instructions attached to the DNA before the DNA can start to produce the correct genes to make the embryo.

Sometimes these changes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen quite right and can be related to problems in the placental function, which is controlled by a very complicated genetic system.

Some of these incorrect changes in gene expression can happen in the foal itself, but fortunately, when that foal is an adult, its sperm or eggs on/off switches are reset and the cloned horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offspring will be normal.

Some breeders are making the decision to gene bank DNA from their horses now, just in case they would ever want to clone the in-

dividual. It cannot be done with DNA from a deceased horse. The gene bank can hold the sample for future use indefinitely.

Bringing the technology home

A well-known northern plains breeder has taken the bold step to clone their aging, though still - See Equine cloning on page 14 -

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Equine cloning

- Continued from page 13 productive stallion, Frenchmans Guy. Bill and Deb Myers of Myers Performance Horses, St. Onge, SD, thought long and hard before making the decision. Looking toward the future, both for their family and the horse business, they finally decided to do it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thought it would be good for the family. It would be a long-term investment for both our family and the industry,â&#x20AC;? says Bill.

After much research, the Myers met with cloning specialists to discuss the pros and cons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The biggest deciding factor is when they said the cloned stallion would reproduce identically to Frenchmans Guy,â&#x20AC;? Myers says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That took a lot of the risk out of it.â&#x20AC;?

In 2011, three clones of Frenchmans Guy were born in Texas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had only planned on doing one, but all three came out great and we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to let any of them go,â&#x20AC;?

Myers says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were all really strong foals and healthy. Blake Russell of ViaGen said that strong foals come from a clean gene pool.â&#x20AC;?

The birth of three successful clones was quite a surprise, due to the fact that it usually takes several attempts to produce just one full-term embryo. After the foals were 60 days old, the recipient mares and cloned foals came home to Myersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ranch near St. Onge, SD. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just finished halter breaking them. They look, move and act so much like him (Frenchmans Guy), that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty neat,â&#x20AC;?

Myers says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Their markings are different, but the color of them is the same dark palomino. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now we have to figure out what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to call them! That could take us all winter,â&#x20AC;? Myers chuckles.

Since the AQHA doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t currently register cloned horses, the reproductive value of a clone is going to be focused on performance horses for the rodeo, barrel and cutting arenas. Registration papers arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t required in those venues, yet the ability of the horse is essential for success. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The rodeo arena is all about the stopwatch, not the papers,â&#x20AC;? Bill says.

“We aren’t going to manage the cloned stallions any differently than we have Frenchmans Guy. We will use the same careful selection for the mares we’ll breed and cull just as rigorously for any defects,” Myers says. “We’re not trying to corner the market with the clones, but they will be made available to the public for breeding with the same standard as we’ve used with Guy. Quality, not quantity.”

At 24 years of age, Frenchmans Guy is currently one of the three greatest sires of barrel horses in the world today. He’s also sired offspring that have excelled in the roping arena, working cowhorse, and on the ranch. “He’s helped establish a lot of other programs, too,” Myers says. “He’s brought a lot of joy to people besides us.

“We didn’t start out to breed for barrel horses, that just happened. We just wanted to raise good, athletic horses that we liked to ride,” Myers adds. “I guess we sure did that.”

The future careers of the cloned stallions will obviously be in the breeding shed, though Bill says, “We want to ride them and see how they’ll ride, but we’re not sure if competition will be a part of that or not.”

He adds, “With Frenchmans Guy’s record, we don’t think they really have to prove too much.”

Not everyone agrees that cloning should be happening at all, but it is definitely here to stay. Nor is it

for everyone, as the cost will keep most people from doing it. The quality of the individual being cloned and the purity of the genetics are critical to making cloning a success and making it a bigger player in the horse business, and perhaps acceptable by the AQHA and other breed associations.

In the mean time, the three golden palomino colts at the Myers ranch are busy just being weanling horses and growing up. Time will tell as to what an impact they’ll have on the horse world. They have mighty big shoes to fill, but the pure and identical genetics are there to do it. Now, if they just had names! F

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 15

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18 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

Jensen

Quarter Horses

By Heather Hamilton

Mares and foals at Jensen Quarter Horses are summered on pasture, and wintered on high-quality hay.

Chris has carefully selected and purchased mares that are daughters of AQHA World Champions to breed to his AQHA World Champion stallion Playzorro. He also breeds Playzorro to outside mares each year, expecting the stallionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offspring to be versatile and excel on the ranch or in the show ring. Courtesy photo/Chris & Jenifer Jensen

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 19

Chris and Jenifer Jensen’s breeding program centers on quality mares and their stallion Playzorro

J

ensen Quarter Horses centers on the stallion Playzorro, whom Chris Jensen rode to a 2010 AQHA World Championship in the Select Heading Division, and a 2011 Reserve World Champion in the Select Breakaway Roping division.

Purchased from the Pitzer Ranch

Sale, Playzorro was the result of looking for a gelding to show in the AQHA and has resulted in a Quarter Horse operation that is progressive and multi-faceted.

“He assured me that just because we were buying a stallion didn’t mean we had to have mares, and that we would just take in outside mares. That lasted

20 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

about six months, until the first mare showed up,” laughs Jenifer Jensen of her husband’s start with the stallion.

“Our breeding program is pretty simple and basic; it’s just that we have an exceptional horse in Playzorro, and try to purchase very high-quality mares who are daughters of AQHA World Champion studs to use him on, and Jenifer just keeps buying them,” Chris Jensen playfully retorts on how their operation has grown.

“We also take in outside mares, and expect his offspring to able to work on the ranch or in the show pen for those people,” Jensen continues, whose operation is based in Lance Creek, WY.

Using a light program

To balance showing his stud, breeding his own mares, and making sure his customer’s mares are also bred in a timely fashion, Jensen uses a number of management strategies, including keeping lights on his horses from 6

Chris Jensen utilizes a light program, shown here, to get mares cycling earlier in the year. He does this through stalling the mares under lights for a set number of hours each day, explaining that light is what tells a horse to grow a winter coat and stop cycling. This practice allows him the advantage of weaning bigger, more mature foals each fall, and provides him additional time to dedicate to outside mares his stallion services during more conventional breeding months. Courtesy photo/Chris & Jenifer Jensen

p.m. to 11 p.m. during the winter months.

“Light is what tells a horse to grow hair for winter, and for a mare to quit cycling. A light program causes mares to cycle earlier in the year than they otherwise would. They’re a fairly common management tool, especially in southern states where more inclement weather doesn’t make it an issue to foal earlier in the year,” Jensen explains.

“I use lights to breed mares early for two primary reasons. The first is that the earlier that foal is born, the bigger and more mature he will be at weaning time.

That has become more important as people continue to expect more out of horses at younger ages, especially in the show world. It’s very similar to comparing a calf born in March to one born in May in terms of difference in growth and maturity. The second reason is that if I can get my mares bred, and foaled, early, they are out of the way when my customer’s mares arrive. It allows me to give more individual attention to each mare as she cycles, and the fewer horses you have around the less likely you’re going to have a wreck or get a colt hurt,” continues Jensen.

“It works well for us because most of our customers don’t like to foal early. Many are ranchers, who would have cattle in the corral and barn in February and March.

Where we’re strictly a horse operation, and since we have the facilities to house those foals in bad weather, it works well for our operation,” he adds.

Jensen starts putting his mares under lights in October in order to

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- See Jensen Quarter Horses on page 22 -

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 21

Chris Jensen rode his stallion Playzorro, who is a son of Playgun and Texzorra by Texas Kicker, to a 2010 AQHA World Championship in the Select Heading Division. In 2011 he returned to sweep the AQHA Select Breakaway Roping division; winning on his gelding Master Hot Chex, aka “Yeller,” out of ER Hot Chex and Debs Two ID Red by Two ID Bartender, who is shown with Chris’ wife Jenifer in the saddle, and taking reserve with Playzorro. Both horses were purchased at the Pitzer Ranch Sale. Chris describes them as exceptional, well-bred, well-mannered horses. Courtesy photo/Chris & Jenifer Jensen

Jensen Quarter Horses - Continued from page 21 breed them in March, and notes that when planning a light program, it’s important to realize that typically mares have a false heat the first month they come in. To maximize conception rates, he suggests breeding mares on their second cycle. He adds that it is also important to allow mares some darkness.

“In my opinion leaving the lights on 24/7 screws them up.

They’re just like humans in that each one is different in how

much rest they need. The idea is to replicate Mother Nature as much as possible,” he explains.

Breeding services

Chris and Jenifer hand breed every mare their stud services.

This is done because Playzorro is still used in competition, and hand breeding reduces the chances of him being injured.

“I am going to school in January of 2012 to learn how to artificially inseminate (AI).

There have been several in-

22 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

stances in years past where I would have two or three mares in heat at the same time, and I would have to breed him to a mare in the morning, and again in the evening, and do a lot of staggering. A stallion will usually deposit enough semen while covering a mare naturally to breed her five times through AI. By collecting him, we can then AI that mare two or three times during her heat cycle from that single collection, and save his energy and

potentially prolong his breeding lifetime.

“We have also shipped semen from him in the past, and are hopeful we will get to ship lots more as he continues to gain recognition,” Jensen continues. “It will also be good to have some semen stored from him, just as an insurance policy in case he gets hurt or dies or something unforeseen like that. Another bonus is that through collecting him, he won’t use as much energy, and I can continue to show him during the breeding season.”

important to me to have those proven bloodlines. Some of our mares have been shown, some have just been ridden, and there are a couple we’ve purchased that have only ever been used

- See Jensen Quarter Horses on page 24 -

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 23

Jensen Quarter Horses

- Continued from page 23 ception. We don’t grain them; they’re run on native grass in the summer and wintered on good quality hay. Their feet and teeth are kept up, and I wean the first part of September because most years that will give a mare a little boost to pick up some weight prior to winter. We typically get some moisture and green grass that time of year, and you can see a little bloom come back into them during that time,” he says.

Foals are typically marketed private treaty, with the occasional one being sold through a sale or on the Internet.

“Our herd is currently building, so we’re going to have to start marketing more horses. I’m not a big fan of selling weanlings, but will if a person is interested. I prefer to grow them up to yearlings, and have them halter broke and handled prior to selling them,” comments Jensen.

“We’ve been very fortunate. We were just looking for a show horse, and I couldn’t tell Jenifer ‘no,’ so she bought him and this is what has developed,” laughs Chris.

“Playzorro is an exceptional horse in my opinion. He’s so versatile that you can do anything you want. He’s very quiet and laid back, but when you ask for something he gives you 110 percent.

There are a lot of great studs out there, so you have to do something to catch people’s eye. We’re hopeful that as his accomplishments in the show ring continue to grow, more people will want to use him, and we’re very excited about the future,” adds Chris on a more serious note. F Editor’s note: Contact Chris and Jenifer Jensen at 307-334-2961, or through e-mail at jensenjenifer@ yahoo.com.

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 25

Horizon W

hen Dr. Charles and Dr. Deborah Skow of Keenesburg, CO, decided to develop a Quarter Horse breeding program, they tried several different bloodlines, but always came back to one horse they both admired.

“Initially, we owned horses with a variety of bloodlines, but what 26 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition 26 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

By Gayle Smith

we found is they didn’t provide what we were looking for as far as disposition or cow sense,” Deborah explains. “We both admired Poco Bueno for his strong, bulldoglike conformation, cow sense and athletic ability. We agreed that he and his sire, King, were arguably one of AQHA’s most well-known and influential father-son teams.”

Deborah and Charles Skow focus on Poco Bueno bloodlines for the foundation of their horse program

Quarter Horses

“As veterinarians, we emphasize preventative health care and nutrition,” says Deborah Skow of Horizon Quarter Horses. Courtesy photo

Once the couple decided to focus on a Poco Bueno foundation for their breeding program, the challenge was finding offspring they could purchase. “Poco Bueno sired only 405 registered foals,” Deborah says. “He was alive during an era before [artificial insemination] and shipped semen were available. We have always been

impressed that his bloodlines continue to influence the modern performance Quarter Horse over 40 years after his death. With Poco Bueno’s stud fee of $5,000 during the 1940s, it is likely that only the very best mares were brought to him, making those daughters and granddaughters very valuable as bloodstock.”

- See Horizon Quarter Horses on page 28 -

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 27 2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 27

Horizon Quarter Horses - Continued from page 27 -

They were fortunate to have a mentor, Roy Yates, encourage them to purchase as many Poco Bueno

granddaughters as they could afford. The search led the couple to the legendary Frank Perkins Ranch in Tyler, TX, where Perkins

Finding Poco Bueno daughters and granddaughters has been the focus of Horizon Quarter Horses. Courtesy photo

has bred Poco Bueno horses for over 40 years.

“His linebreeding program has produced some of the highest percentages of Poco Bueno blood in America,” Deborah says. With Perkins’ help, the couple was able to purchase many double-bred Poco Bueno granddaughters that have become the backbone of their breeding program. Since they started in 1984, they have acquired mares and stallions whose pedigrees represent up to 18 different sons and daughters of Poco Bueno.

One of those Poco Bueno stallion standouts is Little Blue Bueno, a grullo double-bred grandson, who is 40 percent related in blood to Poco Bueno. The stallion is the foundation of the couple’s Poco Bueno program.

“Little Blue Bueno’s son, Pistolera Poco, is following in his sire’s footsteps as a great producer,” Deborah adds. “Another stallion, Poco Stripe Jr, a great-grandson of Poco Bueno through Poco Tivio, The majority of Charles and Deborah Skow’s horses are sold as weanlings and yearlings, and have been through their halter-breaking program. Courtesy photo

28 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

has also been a great asset to our program, producing foals with exceptionally kind dispositions.”

Horses that work into the future

The Skows strive to make the Poco Bueno horses more competitive in today’s market by crossing those bloodlines on some of their favorite Doc Bar bloodlines, including Doc’s Dee Bar, Doc’s Hickory, and their own son of Doc O’Lena, Cool Little Lena. “This cross provides us with some great athletes, with refinement of the head and body, along with a little extra speed,” Deborah explains. “The attractive foals produced by this cross have also had exceptional dispositions, making them very popular with our customers.”

“Our horses are versatile athletes with great cow sense,” Deborah continues. Customers have used the horses in events like cutting, reining, working cow horse, roping, ranch work, team penning,

“We are proud that many of our customers comment about how stout and goodsized our young horses are. We feel that a proper mineral balance, parasite control and plenty of exercise is very important for bone growth and development in our youngsters. We raise all our own alfalfa and grass hay,” says Deborah Skow.

Courtesy photo

ranch rodeo events, and most recently, AQHA’s Ranch Versatility competitions. Many of the horses have also become part of ranch

breeding programs for other producers. The horses have been purchased by customers as far away - See Horizon Quarter Horses on page 30 -

This Horizon Quarter Horse weanling practices his cutting skills. Courtesy photo

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 29

Horizon Quarter Horses - Continued from page 29 -

as Germany, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico, although the majority have been sold throughout the U.S. “When people come to look at our horses, they often comment about the uniform appearance of our foal crops,” Deborah explains. “This likely comes from many years of concentrating on improving our basic foundation bloodlines to meet the needs of today’s horseman. Each year, we’re working toward the goal of producing horses with plenty of muscle to do a day’s work, with strong legs and feet to take them there. Everyone enjoys owning a pretty horse, and a little

30 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

extra refinement of head and neck goes a long way toward that end,” she says.

Fundamental training

Most of the Skow’s horses are sold before they reach two years old. “Charles has started many of our young horses, though the majority of them are sold as weanlings and yearlings,” she explains. “All the young horses we sell have been through our halter-breaking program, beginning each fall a few weeks after weaning.

“Our assistant, Kayte Koch, starts each weanling with some gentle give and take work in a small pen, prior to introducing them to our halter-breaking donkeys. We have been using the donkeys for many years to help us

halter break our colts, after learning of the method from another of our mentors, Marge Brubaker.”

Deborah explains the process: “Using about an 18-inch soft rope with safety snaps on each end, we attach one end of the lead to the weanling’s halter ring, and the other to a cow collar around the donkey’s neck. The donkeys drag the youngsters around with minimal chance of injury, virtually eliminating the possibility of them rearing over backwards. The young horses also learn a great deal of patience as donkeys tend to be lazy, and are known to stand around a fair amount of the time. The young ones are hooked up to the donkeys about seven hours a day for seven to 10 days. Each morning, Kayte does some individual

leading work in a small pen before hooking the young ones up to the donkeys.

“The next phase of the youngster’s training is bringing them up to the barn, where they spend some individual time in a 12-foot by 12-foot stall with a run,” Deborah continues.

“They learn a little more independence, as well as to step up from the run into the higher stall at feeding time. Kayte leads them each day in our covered round pen, and all around the area outside the barn. They also are tied for at least an hour a day in their runs. After they are leading well, they typically load easily into trailers since they’ve become accustomed - See Horizon Quarter Horses on page 32 -

Mares at Horizon Quarter Horses graze fall grass pastures. Courtesy photo

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 31

Horizon Quarter Horses - Continued from page 31 -

to the similar situation of stepping up into the darker stalls.”

Preventative health care

Health and preventive care is also an important part of the Skow’s program. Before going to a new home, all the young horses complete their full series of vaccinations for eastern and western encephalitis, tetanus, flu, rhino and West Nile Virus, as well as a broad spectrum dewormer to compliment their daily Strongid feed dewormer, Deborah explains. They also have their feet trimmed, are checked for normal teeth occlusion, and that both testicles are descended in the colts.

“As veterinarians, we emphasize preventive health care and nutrition,” Deborah explains.

“We are proud that many of our customers comment about how stout and good-sized our young horses are. We feel that a proper mineral balance, parasite control and plenty of exercise is very important for bone growth and development in our youngsters. We raise all our own alfalfa and grass hay.”

Little Yellow Spirit competes at the Reining Championships in Aachen, Germany, where he won the Silver Medal. Owned

by Judith and Jorg Junker, Little Yellow Spirit is trained and ridden by Emanuel Ernst. Little Yellow Spirit is an AQHA Superior in reining. He is a 2002 stallion sired by Little Blue Bueno and out of Tivio’s Snappy Stripe a Poco Bueno, Poco Tivio mare. Courtesy photo

During non-haying months, horses graze the hay fields.

Although all the horses are foaled and raised outside, the young stock receive daily concentrate rations beginning at three weeks of age when they have access to a creep feed. The horses also receive Strongid C 2-X daily feed dewormer in their concentrate rations, beginning with their creep feed. The older horses receive Stablelyx supplement with their free-choice hay.

The Skows sell their horses exclusively by private treaty.

Their Web site has become an integral marketing tool, providing horse buyers with information about their program, stallions and available sale horses. F Editor’s note: Contact the Skows at 303-732-0616 or online at horizonquarterhorses. com.

Horses are foaled and raised outside at Horizon Quarter Horses with young stock receiving daily concentrate rations at three weeks of age. Courtesy photo

32 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 33

training t â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instead of teaching your horse, set him up to learn.

The former is at your pace; the latter is his,â&#x20AC;? adds Zach Ducheneaux on his horse training philosophy. Courtesy photo/DX Ranch

34 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

tactics

Horse-training duo offers advice on equine behavior and handling

By Amanda Radke

“The two biggest issues I see in horse-human relationships are poor application of pressure and inconsistency,” says Zach Ducheneaux. Courtesy photo/DX Ranch

Zach Ducheneaux and Jenn Zeller are a dynamic pair, sharing a passion for the equine industry and working together at Ducheneaux Ranch in Eagle Butte, SD. There, the pair helps run the family’s diversified operation, which includes raising and selling registered Quarter Horses and Angus cattle and also offering horse training services, natural beef packages, ranch vacations, tour opportunities and even internships and workshops.

A

lthough the couple keeps busy with their multiple business ventures, it’s horses that truly brings them together. And, with decades of experience under their belts, they offer advice on equine behavior and handling for both the seasoned and novice horse owner and rider.

“We really prefer not to see horses as having behavioral problems,” says Zeller. “We see horses as only being horses, and it’s our job to help them understand what we want. As we approach them, we realize that they are never wrong.

It’s considered a natural horsemanship approach, but there’s not a lot - See Training tactics on page 36 -

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 35

Training tactics

- Continued from page 35 of articles written from our perspective in the marketplace. All the issues that people see their horses having are usually built into them by someone not realizing that every time they touch their horse they teach him good, bad and indifferent behaviors.

Most horse problems are people problems manifesting themselves through their horses. Our training philosophy is listed on our Web site, and we encourage everyone to check it out.”

Their philosophy is based on the simple quote with the powerful meaning: “There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going.”

As their Web site states: “This quote rings especially true when it comes to training horses. For quite some time, we only started and rode our own horses. Recently we’ve opened our doors to the public to help with their training needs, as well. We are now starting colts

“We have one trait we wouldn’t waiver on when purchasing a horse for riding and that’s the willingness of the current owner to allow a no-risk trial period, whether that’s a day, a week or 10 days,” – Zach Ducheneaux and putting miles on already started horses. Both Ducheneaux and Zeller echo the horse training philosophies of Hunt, Brannaman and Pate, and have incorporated their own experiences into their philosophies to give these colts what we believe is the right start in life.

We reward every try and teach the horse to look for the release of pressure. That’s what we feel is important when it comes to making a soft, willing horse.”

Natural horsemanship

Both Ducheneaux and Zeller echo the teachings of Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman and have incorporated their own experiences into their philosophies.

36 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

“Horses don’t have behavior issues; they behave the same way day-in and day-out,” Ducheneaux explains. “The two biggest issues I see in horsehuman relationships are poor application of pressure and inconsistency. In order for the release to matter, there must be pressure; for that pressure to matter, there must be release.

People have difficulty administering the two in proper proportion. The awful contraptions that have been created to train horses have been designed to inflict extreme discomfort or pain on horses. This is the exact equivalent to putting thumbtacks in Michael Jordan’s shoes to make him jump higher.”

“Have fun. Focus on enjoying the time you spend with your horse,” recommends Zach Ducheneaux. Courtesy photo/DX Ranch

He expanded on how, too often, training is inconsistent, creating problems for both the horse and rider.

“From feeding to watering, to trailer-loading or simple grooming, people are building behaviors in their horse,” Ducheneaux adds. “Humans compartmentalize and believe behaviors exhibited during different interactions aren’t related, and that contributes to problems we create through our own lack of consistency.”

Training

When asked what’s the best training advice, both trainers offered solid pieces of information.

“If you’re interested in training a horse yourself, my advice would be to find someone who has horses that rides like you would want your own to and pick their brain for thoughts,” Zeller says. “Also, find the clinician who makes the most sense to you, whose horse looks like you want yours to look and observe, remember and compare. Realize that you’re not going to be perfect, so expecting that from your horse is a goal that you won’t reach. Also, understand that emotions have no place when training your horse. We can’t get mad at the horse for not doing what we want. The

horse will listen, if we can only help him understand.”

“Always put your own safety and well-being first,” Ducheneaux adds. “Beyond that, I have two pieces of advice to give.

“First, believe in what you’re doing, and do what you believe in. Your confidence is directly related to your horse’s willingness to buy what you have to sell him.

“Second, never stop learning and remember that the horse is never wrong. Instead of teaching your horse, set him up to learn. The former is at your pace; the latter is his. He’ll appreciate having the opportunity to learn much more than being taught. Lastly, but certainly not 100 Airport Rd Gregory SD 57533 Email: ranchers2@goldenwest.net

“We really prefer not to see horses as having behavioral problems. We see horses as only being horses, and it’s our job to help them understand what we want,” says Jenn Zeller of the Ducheneaux Ranch near Eagle Butte, SD. Courtesy photo/DX Ranch

least, have fun. Focus on enjoying the time you spend with your horse.”

Making a purchase

When purchasing a horse, both trainers agree that disposition should be the first and foremost concern; in fact “Disposition First” is the guiding philosophy for the Ducheneaux Quarter Horses breeding program.

- See Training tactics on page 38 Phone: 605-835-8790 or 605-835-8105 Fax: 605-835-8770

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 37

Training tactics

- Continued from page 37 “There are as many different types of horses as there are people; some are pretty laid back and accepting, while others take a little more reassurance that things are going to be okay. In purchasing a horse, I would lean toward the type that has a gentle and willing disposition.”

Next, find a reputable breeder who will be willing to offer a no-risk trial period.

“We have one trait we wouldn’t waiver on when purchasing a horse for riding and that’s the willingness of the current owner to allow a no-risk trial period, whether that’s a day, a week or 10 days,” Ducheneaux says. “This is even more important for green riders or for horses that will be used to work cattle. We offer this with every horse we sell on the place.”

“Buying from a breeder who will stand by their horses and is interested in matching the horse with the rider is always a good way to go,” agrees Zeller.

“For us, finding a good fit for our horses is most important. We want to find a good match, and we make sure that it’s the beginning of a good, ongoing relationship with us, the horse and the rider.”

Having fun and enjoying the ride is what it’s all about. Creating a relationship, growing in confidence and gaining trust between horse and rider will help alleviate some behavioral issues that frustrate horse owners. F Editor’s note: Learn more from this seasoned pair at http://thedxranch.com; on Facebook, www.facebook. com/ducheneauxquarterhorses; or Twitter, @dxquarter horses.

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 39

Colic

conditions Timing and surgery can save a horse’s life

By Gayle Smith

C

olic can be a five-letter dirty word in the equine business. This year, an estimated one in 10 horses in the U.S. will suffer from colic. The illness, which is considered the number-one cause of death in horses, can be difficult to treat without intervention from a veterinarian. Each year, many rodeo and performance horses succumb to the sickness. Some will recover, but sadly, many will die. When a horse gets sick and colic is suspected, timing can be critical.

- See Colic conditions on page 42 -

About 90 percent of the horses Dr. Ted Vlahos of Sheridan and Cody Equine Hospital perform surgery on are long-term survivors. “It depends a little on their condition, but I have only had to re-operate on a handful of cases in over the 1,000 I have worked on in the last 24 years,” he says. Courtesy photo

40 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

“We are the only equine referral surgical center in Wyoming. We routinely do surgeries for about 30 other veterinary practices in Wyoming and surrounding states,” – Ted Vlahos

About 80-90 percent of the horses that have a colic episode do just fine with conservative treatment like pain medication and laxatives, according to Dr. Ted Vlahos of Sheridan and Cody Equine Hospital. Another 10 percent require more aggressive medical treatment such as intensive fluid therapy, and about 10 percent in Vlahos’ practice area require surgery. Courtesy photo

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 41

Colic conditions

- Continued from page 41 According to Dr. Ted Vlahos, surgical veterinarian at the Sheridan and Cody Equine Hospitals, it is important for horse owners to communicate with their veterinarian either in person or by phone that their horses are sick, and that they suspect colic.

“About 80-90 percent of the horses that have a colic episode do just fine with conservative treatment like pain medication and laxatives,” Vlahos says. “About 10 percent require more aggressive medical treatment such as intensive fluid therapy, and about 10 percent in our practice area that have colic require surgery. It is very important to have your veterinarian involved in determining which category your horse has.”

Vlahos has performed colic surgeries for more than 24 years, completing more than 1,000 of them. “We are the only equine referral surgical center in Wyoming. We routinely do surgeries for about 30 other veterinary

A mare that has foaled can be more likely to get colic because there are more chances of twisting of the large colon after foaling. Timing can be critical in diagnosing a horse with colic, says Dr. Ted Vlahos of Sheridan and Cody Equine Hospital. Courtesy photo

practices in Wyoming and surrounding states,” he says.

The surgery typically costs $5,500-$6,500 at his practice, Vlahos says, but horse owners shouldn’t let the price tag scare

them. “There are some very inexpensive ways to insure a horse for a few hundred dollars a year, which will cover colic surgery,” he notes.

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“There are some very inexpensive ways to insure a horse for a few hundred dollars a year, which will cover colic surgery,” – Ted Vlahos Causes of colic

Colic is caused by many things, depending upon the use of the horse and the environment, Vlahos explains. “In our practice area, we see a lot of colic related to poor parasite control, and poor quality nutrition. The problem can be worse during the cold winter months if the horse is fed coarse hay and has inadequate water consumption. The accumulation of sand from rooting around for minerals or hay leaves, and consuming sand, can also cause colic,” he adds.

Dr. George Marble, a veterinarian with Willowcreek Animal Hospital, shared a story all too common for many horse owners. In the wintertime, horses can easily contract colic by becoming water deficient. Electric tank heaters that are improperly grounded are the main culprit because they can shock the horse when it attempts to drink. Marble says occasionally humans fail to realize that a tank heater is improperly grounded because it fails to shock them. However a horse, which is larger and heavier, may be shocked as it attempts to drink.

Abrupt changes in management, especially changes in feed or environment can also cause colic, adds Marble. Stalled horses, versus those running in

a pasture, need sufficient exercise and a more strict diet, he explains. Horse owners may need to feed their horses some alfalfa because the calcium in the hay actually buffers gastric acids. It is similar to a human taking Tums when they have a stomachache, he says. Horses that are stalled can also be more likely to get colic because of the lack of exercise, and the quality of feed available that may make the animals overweight.

Vlahos says some colic disorders can also occur in a mare within a few months after foaling. “A mare that has foaled can be more likely to get colic because there are more chances of twisting of the large colon after foaling,” he explains. “However, given all we have learned about colic in the last 30 years, there are still a great number of cases that we still just don’t know why.”

When signs are apparent

When dealing with a sick horse, Vlahos says the first thing horse owners should do is get the horse to their veterinarian and have it evaluated. “If that is not possible, contact your veterinarian by phone.

Time is very critical in determining when the horse needs to be referred for surgery. Veterinarians have become increasingly aware of when to refer the horse,” he says.

Early symptoms of colic can include a horse going off feed, pawing, sweating, looking at its side, and rolling. “Certainly, the horses that are thrashing on - See Colic conditions on page 44 -

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 43

Colic conditions

- Continued from page 43 the ground have surgical diseases most of the time, but many horses

that are not in violent pain may also need surgery,” he explains.

Vlahos says too many times horse owners give their horse a little Banamine to solve the

problem. “It may make the horse feel better short term, but it doesn’t solve the problem. I really encourage people to have their veterinarian involved in the horse’s progress, rather than giving the horse medication for 24-48 hours without seeing any improvement in the horse’s condition,” he advises.

When a horse with colic comes into the equine hospital, Vlahos and his team first evaluate it.

“The hallmark things we look at are the type of pain, duration of pain, and rectal findings, in addition to their overall vital status and whether or not they have responded to prior medical treatment,” he says.

If the team determines the horse needs surgery, Vlahos says the success rate is very high.

“About 90 percent of the horses we perform surgery on are longterm survivors,” he says. “It depends a little on their condition, but I have only had to re-operate on a handful of cases in over the 1,000 I have worked on in the last 24 years.”

Immediately after surgery, Vlahos says they start walking and feeding the horse. “They are typically confined to a stall with hand walking for the next 30 days, at which time we provide a small turnout for the horse. We expect them to resume full activity by 90 days after surgery.”

Good management is key in preventing colic. Vlahos says he encourages his clients to focus on good nutrition, good parasite control, and yearly dental exams by their veterinarian to prevent future colic issues. F

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2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 45

Iris scanning

Iris images from an individual horse are assigned a 15-digit alphanumeric number, along with its iris images. Other data points, including photos of the horse, can be included in the record. Courtesy photo

46 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

eyeD is a non-invasive method of identification available for horses

technology

By Heather Smith Thomas

Breed registries, health professionals, equine facilities, events and shows, racetracks and regulatory administrators for tracking movement of horses across state or international borders rely on dependable means of permanent identification.

Now there are some secure, yet simple methods of identification – with advantages over traditional methods such as brands, tattoos, or even microchips.

A

new system becoming available to professionals and horse owners is iris scan technology, called eyeD. At present, the iris scan is one of the most accurate, reliable, safe and effective existing identification methods for horses.

The iris, the colored portion of the eye, is easily seen and photographed.

David Knupp, who works with Global Animal Management, says a specialized camera is held about 14 inches away from the eye. “It takes a few seconds to take pictures of both eyes. The horse doesn’t have to remain perfectly still because we’re taking a video,” he explains.

“The software goes back through the video, frame by frame, and selects an image best suited for the iris mapping process. It

grabs that image, which we call an eyePrint, and uses it for the permanent picture,” Knupp says.

“We do this for both eyes when we enroll a horse in the system.

That information is transferred to - See Iris scanning techynology on page 48 -

Both of the horse’s eyes are scanned using iris scan technology, also known as eyeD. Courtesy photo

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 47

Iris scanning technology - Continued from page 47 -

a computer. You plug the camera into your computer. A piece of client software, called eyeSync, must be installed on your computer. It pulls the information off the camera – the picture of the eye and information about the horse – and sends it via Internet to the eyeD processor. It stores the iris images and assigns those images a unique 15-digit alphanumeric number. That number, the eyeD ID, is associated with that horse’s eye, and becomes the horse’s identification number,” he explains.

Technology available for use

This technology became commercially available in the fall of 2011, with a presentation at the annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) meeting in San Antonio, in November. Duncan Peters, DVM, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, KY, says Hagyard veterinarians have been working with the company to

test this new system and make it user-friendly.

“The technology is great. It’s a non-invasive way to identify horses and they seem to handle it very well. It has great potential as an identification system. We’ve been using a prototype, and used it on a lot of horses at the Kentucky Horse Park. We scanned those horses, then went back later and checked verification, and it worked very well,” he explains.

“I find this much easier to use than a microchip scanner because with the eyeD you are looking right at the horse’s eye,” Peters explains.

With a microchip, you’re not always sure of its exact location and may wonder if the horse actually has one. Some microchips migrate from their original location.

“You can also incorporate photos of the horse into the record, so you have a visual on the horse as well as the iris scan itself,” Peters says.

The company will sell cameras to veterinarians, breed associations, event coordinators, trainers, breeding and racing facilities who

would conduct the iris scanning for their clients or competitors. “Once we’ve enrolled the horse and have its eyeD, the identification number can be attached to other pieces of

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“I find this much easier to use than a microchip scanner, because with the eyeD you are looking right at the horse’s eye,” – Duncan Peters

The horse doesn’t need to stand perfectly still for scanning of its iris as a specialized camera captures video footage from approximately 14 inches away. Processing software selects the best image from the video, frame by frame, for the iris mapping process.

Courtesy photo

information such as health certificates, health records, Coggins tests, interstate movement certificates or any other information that needs to be associated with that horse,” Knupp says.

Iris scanning versus retinal The development of this technology has taken more than a decade. “One of the first technologies was the retinal scan. Our iris scan has some major differences and advantages. The main reason the iris scan works better is because the iris is at the front of the eye versus the retina at the back.

We don’t need to get as close to the eye to do the iris scan, and we don’t need the horse to be as still, and it doesn’t take as long to get the scan,” he explains.

Another advantage is that the iris is rich in unique features.

“There is a lot of definition, and many things we can map to statistically know the difference between irises. The other good thing about the iris – being on the front of the eye – is that if a horse has any pathologies such as cataracts or glaucoma, these won’t affect our ability to get a picture of the iris. We don’t have to scan through all of that pathology like you would with a retinal scan,” he says.

No two irises are alike. Even clones have different irises because of various environmental factors beyond just DNA. “The

horse’s iris becomes stable by about a year of age. The environment plays a role in formation of the iris. It is influenced by outside factors such as how much sunlight there is, etc. We usually do the scanning after the horse is a year old, but we’ve now developed features in the camera that allow us to scan foals. We are currently doing studies with foals, scanning them at three months of age and re-verifying them at 4.5 months of age.

The study will continue until they are a year old, but so far we are not having any problems,” he says. It’s possible that people can start scanning their horses as foals, for their permanent identification.

“When we come to market this fall, the cost of this technology will be no more expensive than a microchip,” Knupp says.

A non-invasive method

Dr. Kim Sprayberry, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, has worked as a racetrack veterinarian and believes the iris scan will be an excellent non-invasive method to identify horses. “Many of the methods we use currently work well, but this has an advantage - See Iris scanning techynology on page 50 -

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 49

Iris scanning technology - Continued from page 49 -

– you don’t need an injection, or implantation of a device. Horses that undergo lip tattooing, for example, could forego that painful procedure and have an iris scan, instead,” she says.

“The horse doesn’t have to stand perfectly still for scanning, and no

one has to hold the eyelid open and look closely at the eye. Most horses won’t stand still and let you point something at their eye at close range,” Sprayberry says.

“Diseases of the eye that affect the iris could alter the vasculature and topography of the iris, however. Uveitis (moonblindness) could interfere with positive identification because it can be recur-

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rent and may alter the vasculature and cause scarring in the iris in a pattern that changes over time.

But this would only involve a very small percentage of the equine population – so it wouldn’t be a very big issue,” she says.

“Another possible drawback for this technology for regulatory efforts and control of horse movement is that it requires a scanner.

The destinations for some horses may not have the scanning equipment. Even though tattoos, freeze brands, etc. have downfalls, you can see them, and don’t need special equipment,” she says.

“I am not sure iris identification would be a deterrent for illegal horse movement or theft. People could take the horse to a facility where they knew no one would have a scanner for checking iris identification,” she explains.

“To use this technology, people will have to subscribe to a national database. For horse shows, breed registries, sales, etc. this type of identification will be great, but it won’t work in all situations. Not everyone may choose to subscribe.

However, these same concerns could be raised for implanted identification chips,” she says.

“I do think the technology is appealing and will have a lot of advantages – as a sensitive, specific identification tool that doesn’t involve an invasive or painful procedure for the horse,” she says.

“For a while the biggest loophole would be that not every receiving body (processing the horse) will have a scanner to look at the horse and find it in a database. But for certain segments of the horse industry, like racing, I think it would be very helpful – to make sure that the right horse is in the right race. It would be easy to make an iris scan part of the registration process, so all of those horses would be included in a database. For almost all legitimate horse activities – which would be the bulk of the market – the iris scan would have great potential,” Sprayberry says. F Editor’s note: To learn more about eyeD technology, contact company representative David Knupp at 309948-3423, or visit www.eyeD.com.

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 51

Care through the years

52 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

Closely monitoring horses as they age guarantees future health

By Gayle Smith

Winter months can be a challenge in maintaining an older horse. Adequate shelter and good nutrition can help an older horse through the cold weather.

Courtesy photo

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 53

The shiny brown mare grazes happily in the green grass swishing her tail as she bats away a stray fly. Looking at the healthy mare, no one would guess she was nearing 25 years old. Thanks to good management, the mare could have a long life ahead of her.

A

s horses age, they may need a little extra care. All horses age differently, but by keeping a close eye on their health, problems can be addressed as they arise.

“Monitoring horses as they age is very important,” says Kathy Anderson, University of Nebraska extension horse specialist. “Horse owners should monitor the horse’s weight, and how it is getting along. I also encourage them to watch for any issues that come up, and address them before they become major.”

As a horse ages, their nutritional needs change, says University of Wyoming Equine Specialist Amy McLean. “If any older horse is starting to lose muscle tone, and is beginning to drop in weight, additional sources of fat and fiber may need to be added to the diet. Owners may also need to consider switching to a senior or complete feed, and feeding the horse two or three times a day. The horse may also need a more simplified form of forage that has been processed, and is easier to digest.”

Careful management is key for these mares who are in their 20s and still thriving on the KeSa Quarter Horse operation.

Courtesy photo

Feeding changes

Diet, dental care and a parasite control program are all important in maintaining the body condition of older horses. “As a horse ages, it can develop metabolic issues, or diseases like Cushings Syndrome,” Anderson says. “If the horse has been a real easy keeper, you might want to limit its feed so it doesn’t get real heavy and start developing a crusty neck and patchy fat, or some sort of metabolic issue. I would try to keep the horse at a body condition score of five to six, and adjust the feed up or down depending upon what the horse needs.”

Body condition score is particularly important going into winter, McLean adds. “If the horse is at a body condition score of five, that is a good judgement of its previous nutritional history,” she explains. “If the horse is at a five in August, you can expect that to change during the winter. You may need to feed multiple small meals or add fat to the diet. It is also important to supply grass hay or forage, and maybe consider feeding them smaller meals three to four times a day. It is important to start before the weather gets cold, and keep adjusting the diet so they don’t become obese. Plan ahead,” she says.

Sam Hales, of J Lazy YL Performance Horses, says the key to managing older horses on his operation is to be prepared. “I think it is important to have an older horse in the right condition before winter comes. It is tough trying to improve their body condition when they are fighting the winter cold. It is a lot easier to maintain body condition than trying to improve it,” he explains.

In his operation, they sometimes separate older horses with similar nutritional requirements from other horses.

“This way, we find we are not overfeeding one, while the other is getting the bare minimum.”

54 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

Cold weather precautions

During the winter months, McLean says older horses need more body heat to stay warm and maintain themselves. “Older horses tend to have more arthritis, so it may be harder for them to get up because the cold weather affects their joints. They can also slip easier on the ice. I am a fan of blanketing a horse if the right blanket is used, and it is done properly. I also use a neck warmer. It is a good idea to even layer blankets on the horse on those days when the temperature is minus 40 degrees. Providing good shelter for the horse is also important,” she says.

Sam Shoultz of KeSa Quarter Horses says he provides shelter for his older horses, but doesn’t keep them stalled or locked in a barn. “I think it is hard for them to be locked up, and then let out. Going from cold to warm and warm to cold makes them more vulnerable to illness. My horses are used to living on the open plains, so unless there is a serious issue, I think they get along fine that way.”

Dental exams key in maintenance

Having a horse’s teeth checked at least once a year by a veterinarian is also important. “At 15 years of age, the teeth can start to flatten,” McLean says. They can become longer, and develop angles, which make it more difficult for the horse to eat properly.

“If you can’t put weight on an older horse, the first thing I would have checked is their teeth,” Anderson adds. “It is important to keep their teeth in good working order.”

Both horse specialists recommend having a good working relationship with a veterinarian to address dental issues. Signs of dental problems can include horses that drop in weight, slop their feed by dropping a lot of it, and chewing with their head cocked off to one side which can indicate they are developing sores in their mouth. “When you put a bit in their mouth, they may also chomp at it, throw their head, or act abnormal. If they show any signs that something is wrong, they need to be checked,” Anderson says.

A veterinarian can determine if the horse needs its teeth floated, if it has decay, or a bad tooth that needs pulled. “We can’t see clear in the back of the mouth where the molars are,” Anderson explains. “The veterinarian can use a light and move the tongue to one side to examine a horse’s teeth.”

Shoultz says when he has an older horse that starts losing condition, the first thing he does is have a veterinarian come and examine its teeth. “That usually solves about 80-90 percent of the problem,” he says. “As they get older, they develop more hooks, points and waves and can’t process their feed as well. Can you imagine how it must feel to have something like a pin poke you every time you chew?”

Depending upon what the veterinarian finds during the exam, Shoultz may also move the horse to what he calls the “granny pen.”

“We give those horses more specialized care,” he explains. “They are fed a pelleted feed they can’t sort that is high in fat and specially formulated depending upon the hay we have on hand.”

Exercise is still important

Even as a horse becomes older, exercise is still important, Anderson says. “As they get older, you may not be able to ride them as much, and they may not be able to do the same things they did when they were younger,” she explains. “It comes down to being very observant and paying attention to what your horse is trying to tell you. If something is making them sore, they will let you know.”

McLean says the coffin bone in some horses may change as they age. “You may have to pay more attention to maintenance to keep them sound. A farrier may have to trim them differently, or fit them with new shoes.”

Anderson says owners may also need to provide more support by wrapping their horse’s legs. “You have to realize some horses won’t be exactly as they were when they were 10 years younger, you just have to be observant to stay on top of any potential problems,” she says. F

Older horses need to be carefully monitored for any health issues that come up as they age.

Courtesy photo

2012 Horse Edition H Tri-State Livestock News H 55

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DuralIte traIlers 1.800.437.8931

www.duralitetrailers.com • Dealer Inquiries Welcome

56 H Tri-State Livestock News H 2012 Horse Edition

All Riveted All Aluminum And Made to Last!

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GREAT BONE, STRUCTURE, CONFORMATION & HE’S PRETTY! The PERFECT OUTCROSS on your RACE & ARENA BRED MARES!

AMAZING INTR ODU OPPORTUNIT CTORY Y!

2012 FEE: $7

50

Plus Shipping Shipped Seme n Available

2004 BAY STALLION 15 Hands - 1,250 lbs

4Y :HU 7LWW` 7LWW` :HU )HKNLY :\NHY )HKNLY +VJ )HY +VJZ :[HYSPNO[ ;HZH ;P]PV +HZO -VY *HZO +(4 7YLMLYYLK 7H` -HUJ` ;OYLL 5$,6( 7+( 3$< .LU\PUL +VJ +VJZ 4VURL` 4VURL` +VYP :09,

3$''<6 ,5,6+ :+,6.(<

)5(1&+0$16 9$/(17,1( (CJ Sugar - Frenchmans Topaz)

63(&,$/ )5(1&+*,5/

Larry Larson Photography© 605-393-0900

(Special Effort - Frenchmans Topaz)

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE BROODMARES IN FOAL TO IRISH PAY FOR 2012...own daughters of SPECIAL EFFORT, ROYAL QUICK DASH, ROCKET WRANGLER, CJ SUGAR, MR SUN OLENA, APOLLO (TB), SI OLENA & BOON DOX JOHN! )5(1&+0$16 %2 '$6+86 (Royal Quick Dash - PC Frenchmans Bojet)

1999 SORREL STALLION

SIRED BY STREAKIN SIX si 104 AND OUT OF SAMANTHA WRANGLER BY ROCKET WRANGLER si 97

2012 FEE: $1,250

$250 Booking Fee Included - Shipped Semen Available Consideration to Proven Producers Owned by JOHN & LIS HOLLMANN

)5(1&+0$16)$1&<)5(( (Frenchmans Guy - PC Frenchmans Bojet)

63(&,$/ )5(1&+ /$'< (Special Effort - Frenchmans Violet)

ALSO STANDING___________________________________________________ SIRED BY FIRE WATER FLIT si 96 AND OUT OF PCFRENCHMANSLISBET BY SUN FROST

2012 FEE: $1,250

2003 PALOMINO STALLION

$250 Booking Fee Included - Shipped Semen Available Consideration to Proven Producers Owned by

www.firewaterfrenchman.com

John & Lis (Loiseau) Hollmann 605.745.6381 • emhollmann@gwtc.net

www.frenchmansquarterhorses.com

2005 Red Dun Stallion 2005 Red Dun Stallion

2005 Red Dun Stallion

Dun Stallion Dash Ta Fame2005X Red Thisdialsadona X Dial A Red Rooster

Dash Ta Fame X Thisdialsadona X Dial A Red Rooster $1,500 F EE - CONSIDERATION TO APPROVED/MULTIPLE MARES - COOLED/FROZEN SEMEN AVAILABLE $1,500 FEE - CONSIDERATION TO APPROVED/MULTIPLE MARES - COOLED/FROZEN SEMEN AVAILABLE The

The

stallion grand-sired by Champion stallion grand-sired by Champion

RRIVER ANCH IVER ISLAND SLAND RANCH P PEERRFFOO RR M E H H OO RRSSEES S MA AN N C C E

Casper, Casper,Wyoming Wyoming

307-259-3191 307-259-3191

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2005 Buckskin Stallion

2012 FEE: $1,250

SIRED BY FRENCHMANS GUY AND OUT OF A PRODUCING DAUGHTER OF DRY DOC! DRY DOC Dam

NCHA Futurity Champion NCHA Progeny Earnings $3.9 Million

DOCS MOVIDA Producer Of Barrel Futurity Champions

DOC BAR si 75 POCO LENA JET SMOOTH AAAT si 100

LA MOVIDA

Stakes Winner Of $79,000; AQHA Superior Race Horse; AQHA Champion; Progeny Race Earnings Over $2.5 Million; Progeny NCHA Earners $37,000+

LAVERDAD

A SMOOTH GUY sale average on his FIRST CROP OF TWO-YEAR-OLDS - $20,166!

2011 High Seller - $25,000

IMA SMOOTH KIDDER 2009 Gelding

BILL & DEBBIE MYERS - 19974 St. Onge Road - St. Onge, SD 57779 605-642-9789 - BILL’S CELL 605-641-4283 - DEB’S CELL 605-641-4282 - lazybm@wildblue.net

www.frenchmansguy.com